Changer of Hearts

I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. I pray that God refreshes you and gives you readiness to persevere in what He has for you today.  

My desire is to be a blessing to you in helping you know God more and make Him known so I've made these Resources available to you and have the Missional Living blog tab for practical ideas of how to live on mission right where you are. And currently I am writing my way through Judges sharing glimpses of God's heart and character for a weekday devotional. To check out the entire series so far head on over the the Judges Devotional. And if you are a blogger, come on over on Friday's for a blog hop.   

"Manoah said, "Now when your wordscome to pass, what shall be the boy's mode of life and his vocation?" So the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, "Let the woman pay attention to all that I said. "She should not eat anything that comes from the vine nor drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; let her observe all that I commanded."  Judges 13:12-14

Can you relate to Manoah? Wondering, "What are my kids going to do?" Sometimes I think it would be so much easier if I knew exactly the strengths the Lord gave my kids and how exactly He wanted them to use it for His glory. 

A few verses earlier the Lord had told Manoah and Samson's mama that this baby would deliver them from the Philistines. I can imagine Manoah felt some pressure of raising a deliver. What kind of schooling does a future deliverer need anyway? Of course Manoah was asking what his vocation should be. Would he deliver through teaching, or through the military or through politics or what?
But I just love how Jesus doesn't give him the answer but repeats what He had already said about what to do now. And this totally makes since down in verse 25, "And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him." It was the Lord who would shape Samson into a deliverer. It wasn't because the parents did everything just perfect. How freeing! Freedom to trust Jesus with my kids. How comforting! Comforting to know that God's grace covers my inability to be a perfect parent. Comforting to know the Lord can work in my kids hearts, can bring change internally, where all I can do is bring external behavior modification. 

Oh Lord, thank You that You are the changer of hearts. We have such high hopes and dreams for our kids. Please align our desires for them to Your desires for them. But most of all Lord, do a mighty work in their heart that they would walk with You closely. Help them be people who store up treasure in heaven and not waste their life but invest it in eternity with how they are uniquely built. Oh Lord, help us trust You with them and show us what to pray for them on a daily basis. Have Your way in our kiddos Lord.

And ya know, this doesn't just apply to kids. It can apply to anyone we hope to see God change. Anyone the Lord has given us to shepherd. We can trust Him, Jesus, the changer of hearts. 

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I'm linked up with Pause on the Path, Finding Heaven,  Raising Homemakers  
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